TITLE 36

FISH AND GAME

CHAPTER 7

CAPTIVE WILDLIFE

36-715.  Wolves — Transition — Authorities and duties of the office of species conservation — Fish and game commission — Department of fish and game. (1) During the transition from federal management of wolves to state management, the governor’s office of species conservation shall be the lead agency and direct implementation of wolf management policy. The department of fish and game may assist the office of species conservation in efforts to expedite an orderly transition to state management of wolves pursuant to the provisions of the Idaho wolf conservation and management plan. This transition shall be implemented through new or existing cooperative agreements with any agency, department or entity of the United States government or any state agencies as authorized by the Idaho wolf conservation and management plan.

(2)  The office of species conservation, and the commission through the department, are authorized to participate in activities regarding nuisance wolves, and are allowed to meet and confer with state, local and federal agencies, departments or entities or federally recognized Indian tribes to discuss monitoring wolf recovery programs. Additionally, the office of species conservation, and the commission through the department, may cooperate with the legislature, counties, federal agencies, departments, such as the United States department of agriculture wildlife services, entities or federally recognized Indian tribes regarding damage complaints, depredation, effects on ungulate populations, and other conflicts regarding wolves in this state.

(3)  The office of species conservation, in conjunction with the department, shall prepare and submit an annual report to the senate resources and environment committee and the house resources and conservation committee on the implementation and progress of the Idaho wolf conservation and management plan. Such report shall document gray wolf effects upon wildlife, depredation on domestic livestock, and any other subject matter as deemed appropriate and requested in writing by the chairman of the senate resources and environment committee or the chairman of the house resources and conservation committee, or any member of the legislature.

(4)  The office of species conservation, in conjunction with the department, is authorized to develop and coordinate wolf management plans with state agency officials of the states of Wyoming and Montana.

(5)  In implementing the wolf conservation and management plan, the office of species conservation, and the commission through the department, shall consult with local units of government with respect to, and take into consideration, local economies, custom, culture, and private property rights. The office of species conservation and the department may consult with federal entities and shall coordinate with state and local government entities in the implementation of the plan.

(6)  The department of fish and game, under the direction of the commission, is authorized to participate in the development of wolf delisting procedures and interim management activities including, but not limited to, studies relating to the management of game herds impacted by wolves.

History:

[36-715, added 1988, ch. 218, sec. 2, p. 413; am. 1992, ch. 272, sec. 1, p. 843; am. 1993, ch. 332, sec. 1, p. 1231; am. 1994, ch. 382, sec. 1, p. 1228; am. 1997, ch. 235, sec. 1, p. 685; am. 1999, ch. 87, sec. 1, p. 288; am. 2000, ch. 369, sec. 1, p. 1223; am. 2002, ch. 327, sec. 1, p. 918; am. 2003, ch. 302, sec. 2, p. 831.]